Multiple-fuse switch



(No Model.)

J. MELZER. MULTIPLE FUSE SWITCH.

No. 544,318; Patented Aug 13, 1895.

WITNESSES: INVENTOI? A TTOHNE Y.

UNrrEn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEF MELZER, OF SAAZ, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, OF ELEVEN-SIXTEENTHS TO ERNEST KONIGSLOW, FRANCIS C. MCMILLIN, AND ALBERT W. MAYERS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

MULTIPLE-FUSE SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 544,318,- dated August 13, 1895.

Application filed October 20. 1893. Serial No. 488,706- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J OSEF MELZER, a citizen of Austria-Hungary, residing at Saaz, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Multiple-Fused Switches; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it apro pertains to make and use the same. I

My invention relates to improvements in combined multiple-fuse switches, and relates more especially to the specific parts pointed out in the annexed claims.

I have designed a multiple-f use switch which is intended to serve in place of the ordinary wall-switch and a fuse branch block or fuse ceiling-rosettes. To this end I provide the within-described small base having double:- pole terminals thereon, and above which I place a rotating member having heads of insulating material, and reaching from one head to the other suitable detachable insulated fuse-carriers which support the fuse material. The heads of this rotative member are mounted upon a central spindle, which has connected therewith a thumb-screw outside of a casing, which casing may be made of any material to act as a cover for the same. 0 These heads referred to are supplied with a series of fuse-carriers, so that as one is destroyed by an abnormal increase of current a second may be thrown into circuit simply by the turning of the switch-handle, and when 5 it is desired to throw out the lamp or other device the switch-handle is turned to where the suitable side contacts are located intermediate between the fuse-holders.

In the drawings forming a part of this specio fication, Figure l is a side elevation with the cover removed. Fig. 2 is a top plan of Fig. 1, plate D removed and handle in section. Fig. 3 is a top plan showing the parts D C removed. Fig. 4 is a top plan in section at about the center of the device. Fig. 5 is a plan of one of the heads G. Fig. 6 is a similar view of one of the heads H. Fig. 7 is an elevation of one of the removable fuse-holdable fuse-holder.

In the switch I provide a suitable base A,

from which arise two hard-rubber standards B, the same beingsecured to the base A by collars b. At the upper ends of these standards are the keepers C and D. These serve to hold in place between them a ratchet-wheel E, which is mounted upon the central shaft or spindle F. A pawl e is pivoted between the keepers D and C, as shown in Fig. l, and is held in touch with the ratchet-wheel E by a suitably-arranged spring a. At the upper end of the spindle F is placed the finger-piece f, which is threaded thereon, and the lower end of this spindle terminates in a trunnion f, which holds the same centrally to the base A.

Near the upper end of the spindle F and just beneath the keepers D and C is placed a composite head formed of insulating-disks G and H, and near the bottom end of the spindle, slightly above the base A, is placed a similar composite head having disks G and H. These disks are held adjustably upon the spindle F by nutsf placed on either side thereof.

The disks G and G have a central hole for the passage of the spindle F and radial slots g upon their periphery, while the disks H and H have rectangular recesses cut therein at h, and they also have a hole centrally thereof for the passage of the spindle F. These disks are held upon the spindle F the desired distance apart by the nuts, as already referred to, and if desired, for any reason, they can be adjusted endwise of the spindle F. The fuse-holders are made substantially as shown in Fig. 7, wherein a hard-rubber stem It may be threaded at either end, and upon the one end is a collar h integrally or rigidly secured thereon, and at the other end a thumbscrew 71 At each end upon the threaded portion are placed the metallic terminals 9, having holes therein for the passage of the rubber stem h, which are threaded and also have holes g for the insertion of the fuse material the same being held thereon by suitable set-screws g The terminal blocks 9 seat themselves within the recesses 72. of the heads H and H, while the hard-rubber stem h seats itself within the disks G and G, the collar 7L coming outside of the head G and the thumbscrew it coming on the outside of the head G, by means of which the fuse-holder is held upon the said heads.

Since the recesses g and h are radial, and those of the upper head as well as the lower being parallel to each other, it is evident that when the thumb -screw h is loosened the fuse-carrier can be removed bodily from the heads.

The hard-rubber stems or standards 13 near their upper end and about opposite the heads G and II are provided with adjustable contact-brushes 1), these making contact with the terminal blocks g of the fuse-holder. Near the lower end of these standards and about opposite the heads H and G are adjustable contact-brushes 13 which engage the lower terminal blocks g.

The circuit connections of the switch and fuse-holders are as follows: One terminal of the negative side of the circuit is secured at b and the other terminal of the same side of the circuit to b and now the path of this circuit, providing the contact-brushes b and b are in contact with the terminal blocks r, will comprise brush 1), the upper terminal block 9, the fuse material 9 the lower terminal block g, and the brush b while the positive side of the circuit would be complete through the left-hand brush 1), terminal blocks g, fuse material 9 and contactbrush b It will be readily noticed from inspection of Figs. 3 and 4t of the drawings that my device is equally well adapted and is designed as a double-pole switch, for when the brushes 1) and b stand halfway between the terminal blocks g the circuit is entirely broken, and since through the ratchet-wheel E the finger piece f can only be effective to change the position in a rotative manner of the several terminal blocks 9 when the finger-piece is turned in only one direction, so that the switch feature of my device will not be destroyed by reason of possible arcing between the brushes and the fuse terminal blocks. When the finger-piece is rotated in the proper direction the contact-brushes very quickly move away from the fuse terminal g and take up their position some distance away. Of course it will be understood that I could readily embody in my device something of the snapswitch order, which would be a suitableshaped ratchet-wheel or other device to automatically snap the terminal blocks after the finger-piece was turned a certain distance away from the brushes 7) and b and without further moving the finger-piece, thus leaving the same at rest with the brushes about midway between two contiguousterminal blocks, as shown in Fig. 4.

In order to adapt my device easily and readily to a dynamo-switchboard wherein the ordinary fuse terminals such as shown in Fig. 8 are used, I attach the same as shown in Fig. 8, wherein the upper terminal J is provided with a depending projection j, and upon the lateral step thereof is screwed a lateral hard-rubber support j which extends laterally and a sufficient distance to form a bearingj for the spindle F. This bearing is made sufficiently wide to securely hold the spindle parallel to the terminals j and However, if desired, the lower end of the' spindle could also have a bearing. The lower terminal is formed by the angle-piece K. The insulating-heads upon this larger device are similar to those of the smaller, and are likewise adjustable upon the spindle F, more especially in this instance for the purpose of accommodating the several heads to the distance apart of the ordinary terminals upon a dynamo-switchboard, so as to obviate the necessity of rearranging the fuse portion of an ordinary switchboard. Of course, it being understood that one of my devices, when so used, would be placed within each side of the circuit, therefore for dynamo use the device would be of the one-pole order.

That I claim is- 1. A multiple fuse switch, comprising a rotative member having heads of insulating material, recesses in such heads, removable fuse carriers secured therein and means for rotating the assembled parts contiguous to terminal contacts, adapted to successively make contact with the opposite ends of the removable fuse carr'iers, substantially as set forth.

2. A multiple fuse switch comprising an insulated revoluble member, having recesses therein, a series of removable fuse carriers placed in such recesses and suitable set screws or the like adapted to hold the said parts in an assembled position, substantially as set forth.

8. A multiple fuse switch, comprising a suitable insulating base and standards thereon, an insulating keeper connecting the said standards, bearings formed in the said base and keeper, a spindle placed therein, insulating flanges or heads upon said spindle, and a series of detachable fuse holders located upon said heads, and contact points or terminals adjacent to the ends of one or more of the said fuse holders, substantially as set forth.

4. A multiple fuse switch, comprising a rotative member, consisting substantially of a spindle and insulated heads adj ustably secured to said spindle, adjustable and detachable fuse holders secured upon said heads, means secured to said spindle whereby the radial position of each of the fuse holders is determined as Well as the vacant or unoccupied space upon said heads located between said holders, and suitable contact points or terminals located adjacent to said heads, so

ICC

that upon the rotation of the same the said fuse holders will alternately be placed in circuit and out of circuit during the rotation of the spindle, and means whereby said spindle is prevented from being turned in but one direction, substantially as set forth.

5. A multiple fuse switch, comprisinga suitable base and standards thereon, suitable keepers connecting said standards, and bearings formed therein for a spindle; insulated disks or heads upon said spindle, and a series of detachable fuse holders located upon said heads, and contact points or terminals adjacent to the same upon one or more sides thereof, said terminals, fuse holders, and disks or heads being respectively adjustable, substantially as set forth.

6. A multiple fuse switch, comprising a revolnble drum or the like, insulating heads thereon, removable fuse carriers supported by such heads, and suitable contacts for one or more of such carriers, and means for preventing the turning of such drum in one direction substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOSEF MELZER. Witnesses:

N. W. BASINGER, N. S. AMSTUTZ. 

